The top seed's opponent in the final will be 10th-seeded former world No 1 Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark, who advanced in abrupt fashion when China's Peng Shuai was forced to retire due to heat illness trailing 7-6, 4-3 after two hours four minutes on the court.

Williams, who failed to reach the quarter-finals in any of the year's previous three slams, is aiming for her sixth US title and an 18th slam singles crown that would tie her with Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova for fourth on the all-time list.

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